Dust separator



c. G. HAWLEY DUST SEPARATOR Feb. 7, 1933.

Filed Mar-ch l,v 1932 INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1933 CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, or cH'rcAGoflL rnoIs Application filed March 1, 1932. Serial No. 596,138.

The invention relates to improvements in the art of separating varlous substances from fluid streams, and the invention comprises a separator adapted for inclusion in fluid lines or pipes; more particularly, such as are used for the conveyance of gases, from which dust and moisture should be removed. 7

Such flowing fluids are known as carriers; meaning any fluid that is directed 10 or kept in motion between given points; whether liquid, gaseous or vaporous and whether hot or cold,or a mixture; and, the terms foreign or entrained substances is to be understood as meaning any and all carrier conveyed matters, whether solid or fluid,

and of less or greater weight than the carrier. The condition and shape of such particles often permit them to be centrifugally separated, as herein provided, even though of less weight than the carrier.

The objects of the invention are toprovide a separator which shall be adapted for direct inclusion in a carrier line or pipe; which shall offer little resistance to the flow of carrier therein; which shall comprise a minimum number of parts and all of simple construction; which shall comprise only fixed or stationary parts and be free from rotating parts; which shall be effective to remove substantially all the foreign substances from the carrier and to discharge the same from the line; which shall be of small size, weight and cost as compared with other separators of approximate capacities and efficiencies;-

which shall be durable and strong; which shall be shipable and installable as a single unit; which shall be substantially self-cleaning; and adapted for easy dismemberment and removal from the line.

This separator is of a centrifugal'typer That is, upon entering the same the fluid is caused to rotate rapidly and to project the heavier substances against an internal or restraining wall. The heavier substances are collected and removed from that wall; and if desired the invention accomplishes a differentiation and separation of the several substances carried by the fluid. 1

Importantly, this separator is composed of coaxial members which are in axial align merit with. the carrier pipe served thereby. The fluid movement proceeds from the inletof the separator directly to the outlet; the linear movement of the fluid being modified only byawhirling action which-is imparted 5 thereto and which" reliably effects a centrifugal separation of the foreign substances be fore said outlet is reached; i a 1 The .invention as a whole and its several parts and elements will be described by refer- 9 ence to the accompanying drawing, wherein: F g. 1 is a side view of the novel separator; F g. 2 is a view of the inlet; end thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on the line 33 ofFigs. 2 and 4; Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line H of Figs. 3 and 6-; i

gig. 5 is a similar section onthe line 55; an a v Fig. 6 is a bottom side VieW of the main part of the separator, showing the position of the e ect nozzles which project from the side thereof. e

The foregoing objects, and others herein after mentioned, are all attained in, and the invention comprises, a line separator of the construction herein illustrated or typified.

The device comprises two parts'aand 'b, which have companion flanges a and b fastened together by bolts 0 so that they form a single tight casing. V The part b is termed the inlet bell and has a flange Z) for connecting it to a carrier,

pipe of a size which corresponds with the I opening 6 s The part a is termed the body of the separator and terminates in a flange a which contains the central outlet a i 1 Within the member a isthe separating chamberA which presents a cylindrical wall A. The term cylindrical here signifies an easily machined surface A, and an'y'de-I parture therefrom lessens the efliciency of the separator. p 7 r As shown, the chamber A is of somewhat greater diameter than the outlet a leaving the end portion A, which portion is machined as a cone. Thereby the outlet (a? is provided with an upstanding-and outwardly 199 V angled lip, A, comprising a pressure effecting lip and again referred to hereinafter.

The ength of the chamber A about equals its diameter. Its cylindrical wall is perforated at two points, as follows: Adjacent the outlet (1 but at different distances therefrom and iii-the same side-f the member 0;, are

two lateral passages cl and e,'.a-n'd through these theseparated foreign substances are ejected. Preferably, and as-shown respectively in Figs. 4 and 5;the"passages-d and 0'" depart tangentially from the chamber A.

Preferably also they merge with correspond: ing individual nozzles d and e; which lat ter are cast upon'the body a and are threadedgto receive pipes that lead to: suitable disposal" or; collection 1 pocketsor traps? Between' the openings' at and e and shoulderingi,inwardly. from the surface *A is arib t f; of' substantially triangular form: in cross section: This circumferential rib is i prefer ably a separate metal part, the inc-lined" shoulder f whereof is fiushzwith the passage d,that is, .it-.is adapted to direct collected substances; thereintoz; The rib or' shoulderv ring-member fismachinedto fit-astop shoul der-Jf. im the surface A'I,-'andis fastened ag instthe same. I

- A circumferential groove ggtermeda-race,

remains between the ring? f1 and: the angled lip A; This race is-adapted to receive and to direct stray foreign substancesinto the eject passage e.

The internal smaller than that ofthe chamber A, is 'con siderablylarger than that; of the outlet a leavingthe lip-AW exposed beyondthe-rib The member interposed between the inlet b and the chamber A- is a whirl producing tuyere by which the carrier fluidjmoving from the inlet toward the outlet is setinto rapidrotation in advance-ofthe parts d,f,-.

@,A{and e This tuyere preferably comprises the central portion-h together with a plurality of blades h and a circumferential band 'h That bandh": is securely held between and isiixed by the two parts-a and-b of the cas- 111 2 7 tuyere maybe removed, but atother times it? When those parts are separated the is, fixedand non-rotative. I j

Instead of rotation imparted by a' rotating part, the rotation and whirling of the carrier is brought about by disposing the fixed blad'esh angular-1y. -All'bla'des'havea comare whirlingly lodged in the race 9";

diameter bf the rib while of pressure (pressure drop) in the separatoretthe carrier is set into very rapid V and rotatlon in the chamber A.

In consequence of such rotation, the foreign substances are projected spirally against the wall A and upon reaching the shoulder f are whirlinglyv impelled and: directed into the' -ej 8Ct' OPe111I1g*d'. The carrienfiuidwhirls outward across the circumferential rib f and escapes through the outlet a Meantime, the

escaping-or-stray substances which failed of ejection atoZ are crowded past the rib f and angled rib Af meets or intercepts/the peripheral portion ofthe whirling body of fluid and tends: to *keep' the rac'eg constantly filled withc arrier at a'high pressure which ensures; the ejection of the collected substances;

througlrthe passage 0. Hence the term-pres sure effecting lip, as used in describing the part A. j V The inner end ofthe; tuyere contains a central: and generally conical sink i', termed avortexcone. As well known-,every vortex has-a tendency to draw substances to its center. Thistendency is-defeatedwiththe pressure of the .cone'i'. Its concavity is presented toward the outlet ai-andthe lowest pressure within the Y separator exists within 1 the sink 2'.

Its presenceresults-in the temporary reterr tion of substances; whichvotherwise would reach the axis of the chamber- A. Such sub- The stancesareintercepted and first held: at the margin ofthe sink a, and then, taking on-the' whirling motioflwithhrthechamber A, are] centrifugally ejectedtoward and againstt-he wallA The effect of this vortexdefeating.

con'e or elementis very positive. In fur therexplanationit may bepointed out that the sma'll or stray quantities ofsubstance whichreach' and pass theedge of the coneas the result of 'whirlingmotion towardthe out-- let orifice are caught in the voidoccasioned by the presence of the:- cone within the vortex or'whirling body of fluid-,such particles be ing: displaced inwardly by the streams of rier fluid whirling. toward the outlet. The

ind-ividual particles, because ofilack of mass,

are intercepted and temporarily held on the inner'margin' oft-he conical cup; and; as-tlie 7 individual particles become agglomerated" with otliers andvat'tain: sufficient mass they are cent-rifug-ally expelled from theinner margin of the cone, being"t h'ere-.-under the influenceor "im'pulsionof the vortex. Thus stray" particleswhich escape accumulation in e m j pp ation within the; fixture and which might otherwise escapealong th a i of the vortex are positively intercepted as they approach that axis and are centrifugally expelled toward and into the outerp'arts of the fixture, where theyare absorbed intoand' disposed of along with themajor accumulation's'or masseso separated substances;

A separator of theconstruction here ex emplified'and as contrasted with other line separators of approximatelyequal capacities, is of comparatively small size and weight;

the total pressure drop through it is comparatively small, and its efficiency is very high. Intended primarily for the cleaning ofnatural and artificial gases it operatesto remove both dust and moisture from such gases.

However, it is not limited to such uses and is of general utility in carrier lines of all kinds. 7

It has not been thought necessary to illustrate the pockets or traps whichare connected with this separator to receive the foreign substances therefrom. Such pocketsor traps may be of any of the ordinary kinds employed with lineseparators. i

A tuyere of the kind herein employed is separately described and claimed in my companion application entitled Whirl-promoting tuyre for separators, Serial No. 337,598,

filed February 5, 1929.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent r 1. A line separator of the fixed centrifugal type, comprising a two part casing'containing a cylindrical separating chamber, in combination with a whirl-promoting tuyere fixed in and forming the inlet of said chamber, the other end of said chamber containing a central outlet of less internal diameter than said chamber, two eject passages adjacent said outlet and leading tangentially from said chamber at different distancesfrom said outlet, a circumferential rib shouldered inwardly from the wall of said chamber and positioned to direct substances into the first of said passages, and an angled lip forming the inner margin of said outlet and with said rib completing a race which delivers stray substances to the second of said passages.

2. A line separator of the. fixed centrifugal type, comprising a two part casing containing a cylindrical separating chamber, incombination with a radially bladed whirl-promoting tuyere fixed by and between the two parts of said casing and forming the inlet of said chamber, said tuyre having a central conical sink in its exit end, the opposite end of said chamber containing a central outlet of p less internal diameter than said chamber and spaced from said tuyre, two separate eject passages adjacent said outlet and leading tangentially from said chamber, and a circumferential rib shouldered inwardly from the wall of said chamber between said passages and containing an opening which is concentric with but of greater diameter than said outlet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of February, 1932.

CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. 

